2011 Spring Starfish Winners

Tom Lewis, Tracey Mowrey, Ande Wright, Christy Lester, and Dr. Rees

It is important for GISD to recognize that our staff makes a difference in the lives of children every hour, minute, and second of everyday of the school year!  To honor the commitment of our staff members, each semester the SUPERINTENDENT STARFISH AWARD will be awarded to any GISD employee who exemplifies the characteristics of the following story:

There once was a wise old man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing.  One day as he is walking along the shore, he looks down the beach and sees a human figure moving like a dancer.  As he gets closer, he sees that it is a young man and the young man isn’t dancing, but instead is reaching down to the shore, picking up starfish, and very gently throwing it into the ocean.  “Good morning!  What are you doing?” asks the wise man.  The young man pauses, looks up and replies, throwing starfish in the ocean. The sun is rising, and the tide is out.  And if I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.”  “But, young man, don’t you realize that there are miles of beach and thousands of starfish all along it.  You  can’t possibly make a difference!”  The young man, listening politely, bends down and picks up another starfish, throwing it into the sea past the breaking waves.  Turning to the old man he modestly replies, “It made a difference for that one!”